South Korea’s Jun Chae-min anchored his team to a gold in the men’s 4×100 metres relay at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships in Kai Tak last weekend, but for the Hong Kong-raised sprinter, the moment felt as much like a homecoming as a breakthrough.
The 18-year-old, who moved to Hong Kong at the age of three, clocked 39.75 seconds with his teammates to seal victory on a track he knows well.
A recent South Island School graduate, Jun is set to continue his rise in the United States this autumn after securing a place at Harvard University, where he is targeting a spot in the NCAA Division One finals.
“I’ve lived here for most of my life,” Jun said. “I feel like I’m part of the culture.”
Jun, however, did not begin as a sprinter.
A keen footballer in his early years, he only turned to athletics at 13 after being introduced to the sport by neighbours. He initially tried distance running, but quickly realised sprinting was where he belonged.